PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Minoru Suzuki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Suzuki comes to the ring accompanied by Sunrise. Akira Sakurai acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the ring.

Suzuki
vs
Sakurai

185 cm
22
187 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

184 cm
22
188 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Elite Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Minoru Suzuki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Sakurai!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakurai throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Suzuki on the side of the head.
Suzuki ducks under a wild hook from Sakurai.
Suzuki with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Sakurai to score with a decent uppercut.
Sakurai shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Suzuki as he avoids it easily.
Suzuki avoids the body shot from Sakurai.
Suzuki fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sakurai throws the left hand but Suzuki avoids the punch easily.
Sakurai throws a poor cross that misses

and Suzuki decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sakurai's guard.
Sakurai keeping full guard, as Suzuki tries to pass.

Sakurai working for a triangle but Suzuki defends it easily.
Suzuki trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakurai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakurai trying to strike off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suzuki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sakurai is keeping the position for now.
Suzuki slips nicely into half guard.
Sakurai wants to improve his position but Suzuki is controlling well.
Sakurai missing with punches from the bottom.
Suzuki is looking to advance position but Sakurai won't allow it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Suzuki bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Suzuki tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Suzuki has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Sakurai is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Suzuki's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai connecting with a few gentle strikes.

Sakurai looking for subs from the bottom but Suzuki mounts him!
Sakurai is desperately trying to improve his position but Suzuki has a good base and remains in mount.
Sakurai looks gassed!
Suzuki takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Sakurai is in all sorts of trouble here.

Suzuki looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai is looking to improve his position but Suzuki isn't that keen on the idea.
Sakurai wants to hold on but Suzuki pushes him away.
Suzuki works his way to his opponent's back.
Sakurai manages to reverse the position and now he's in Suzuki's guard. Nice work there by Sakurai.
Suzuki preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Suzuki is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Suzuki has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Sakurai has passed into side control.
Sakurai has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
An elbow from Sakurai crashes against the mat.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Suzuki is working to avoid the ground and pound but Sakurai connects with a decent elbow.
Sakurai is trying to ground and pound but Suzuki uses the momentary lack of control by Sakurai to regain half guard.
Suzuki on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Suzuki tries to get out of the position.
Suzuki flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sakurai winds up and cracks Suzuki with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Sakurai is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sakurai missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Suzuki gets back to full guard.
Suzuki lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sakurai!
Suzuki tries to control but Sakurai wriggling away.
Suzuki moves to back control.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Suzuki's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Sakurai defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Sakurai turns into Suzuki and is now in his guard.
Sakurai postures up.
Sakurai looking to pass the guard.
Sakurai wants to control from the top but Suzuki keeps moving.
Sakurai throwing strikes but missing.
Sakurai throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Suzuki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Suzuki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sakurai pushes down on Suzuki's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Suzuki moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sakurai thows a big elbow that misses.
Sakurai stopping the sweep attempt from Suzuki.

Suzuki working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sakurai doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sakurai manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Suzuki manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sakurai manages to get himself to full guard.
Suzuki trying to control but Sakurai is working from the bottom.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Suzuki passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Suzuki scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Sakurai to see if he's OK.
Suzuki takes a little break here. Sakurai wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Sakurai is looking to regain half guard here but Suzuki keeps moving and retains side control.
Sakurai is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Suzuki's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Suzuki is looking for a kimura but Sakurai is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Suzuki to get the leverage.
Sakurai tries to get to full guard but Suzuki has control of the leg.
Suzuki content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Suzuki is keen to just control but Sakurai is a slippery customer.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Suzuki is trying to work for a kimura but Sakurai is defending well.
Sakurai gets back to full guard.
Sakurai tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Suzuki trying to control but Sakurai is working from the bottom.
Suzuki preventing the sweep.
Suzuki trying to control but Sakurai is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sakurai misses with a hook

and Suzuki counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sakurai wants to improve his position but Suzuki is controlling well.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Suzuki has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Suzuki fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Sakurai is trying to reverse the position but instead Suzuki has taken his back - oops!
Sakurai wants to escape the position.

Suzuki is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Sakurai has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Sakurai turns into Suzuki and is now in his guard.
Sakurai throws a strike but Suzuki rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Sakurai tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sakurai keeping moving, preventing Suzuki from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Minoru Suzuki dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Suzuki scores with a takedown into Sakurai's guard.
Suzuki looking to sit in guard and control but Sakurai gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sakurai throws a strike but Suzuki rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Suzuki wants to pass the guard but Sakurai is keeping the position.
Suzuki trying to control but Sakurai is working from the bottom.

Suzuki is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Suzuki looking to pass the guard.
Sakurai lands a decent punch to the body there.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sakurai throws a good cross that connects.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Suzuki has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Suzuki is rocked!
Akira Sakurai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Suzuki closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Suzuki lands in his opponent's guard.
Oh Suzuki is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sakurai manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Suzuki manages to get himself to full guard.
Sakurai landing with the ground and pound.
Suzuki seems to have got his legs back now.
Sakurai throwing strikes from guard but Suzuki blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai stopping the sweep attempt from Suzuki.
Suzuki trying to control the position.
Sakurai throwing strikes from guard but Suzuki blocks nicely.
Sakurai working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Minoru Suzuki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sakurai stopping the sweep attempt from Suzuki.
Sakurai postures up in Suzuki's guard and throws a big left but Suzuki blocks it.
Sakurai loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Suzuki changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sakurai tries to avoid it but Suzuki manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sakurai to the ground. Sakurai escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Sakurai looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai with a nice head shot there.

Suzuki looking for a guillotine here but Sakurai defends easily.
Suzuki lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sakurai!
Sakurai is squirming around, avoiding Suzuki's attempts to control the action.
Suzuki with good strikes from the mount here!
Sakurai is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Sakurai is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Suzuki wants to take Sakurai's back but he can't do it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Suzuki looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Sakurai really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Suzuki controlling the pace for now.
Sakurai flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Sakurai tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Suzuki is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Sakurai is surviving well by controlling Suzuki's body position as best he can.
Sakurai is looking to improve his position but Suzuki isn't that keen on the idea.
Suzuki trying to control but Sakurai is having none of it.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Suzuki wants to finish this one by submission but Sakurai is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Suzuki.
Suzuki tries to control but Sakurai wriggling away.

Suzuki is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Sakurai is surviving well by controlling Suzuki's body position as best he can.
Suzuki trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Suzuki postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sakurai looks a forlorn figure.
Sakurai keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Sakurai working to try and regain half guard.
Suzuki looking to finish Sakurai with some ground and pound. This is bad for Sakurai!

Suzuki working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Suzuki wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

Suzuki is working for a guillotine from mount but Sakurai frees his head quite easily.
Sakurai tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Suzuki has hold of Sakurai's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Sakurai manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Sakurai regains half guard.
Sakurai on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sakurai flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Suzuki is tying to control. Sakurai wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Suzuki seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Suzuki wants to control but Sakurai is keeping him busy.
Suzuki uses his free foot to push down on Sakurai's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Sakurai.
Suzuki landing strikes, looking to finish!
Suzuki can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sakurai is looking to escape.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai working to try and regain half guard.
Akira Sakurai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sakurai is bucking up trying to escape but Suzuki cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
BOOM! Suzuki connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Suzuki trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Suzuki has control of Sakurai's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Sakurai regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Sakurai is trying to escape the mount.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Suzuki looking to control but Sakurai is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sakurai is trying to escape the mount.
Suzuki wants to control the pace but Sakurai is squirming around nicely.
Sakurai manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Sakurai wants to get back to full guard.
Suzuki is looking to take a break and control but Sakurai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sakurai punching from the bottom.
Suzuki blocks the strikes from Sakurai.
Sakurai flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Minoru Suzuki showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Suzuki has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Minoru Suzuki!
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight for Minoru Suzuki!
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Minoru Suzuki!

Minoru Suzuki wins by unanimous decision!